Device for producing tailored blanks by cutting welding sheets to be joined

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for producing tailored blanks. The device comprises a workpiece carrier for the sheets ( 15 a, 15 b ) that are to be joined into tailored blanks in the butt joint by welding. The invention further comprises a plurality of laser welding heads ( 14 a, 14 b ), which are arranged one behind the other over the workpiece carrier and along the butt joint to be welded and can be moved with an advancing device ( 11 a, 11 b ), wherein the heads can be aligned with the joint using positioning means, wherein at least two combined laser cutting and welding heads ( 14 a, 14 b ) are carried by at least two independent arms ( 13 a, 13 b ), each associated with independent units ( 11 a, 11 b ) of the advancing device, and wherein the positioning means can adjust the distances of the units ( 11 a, 11 b ) in the direction of the butt joint and also the distances of the cutting and welding heads ( 14 a, 14 b ) in the transversal direction to the butt joint.

1. A device for producing tailored blanks with a workpiece carrier for the sheets ( 15   a ,  15   b ) that are to be joined into the tailored blank in the butt joint by welding and with a plurality of laser welding heads ( 14   a ,  14   b ) which are arranged one behind the other above the workpiece carrier and along the butt joint seam to be welded and can be moved with an advancing device ( 11   a ,  11   b ), wherein the heads can each be aligned with the joint using positioning means,
 wherein at least two combined laser cutting and welding heads ( 14   a ,  14   b ) are carried by extension arms ( 16   a ,  16   b ), which are carried by at least two independent arms ( 13   a ,  13   b ), which are each associated with independent units ( 11   a ,  11   b ) of the advancing device, wherein the extension arms ( 16   a ,  16   b ) are designed to be movable on the arms ( 13   a ,  13   b ), and in that the positioning means can adjust the distances of the units ( 11   a ,  11   b ) in the direction of the butt joint and also the distances of the cutting and welding heads ( 14   a ,  14   b ) in the transverse direction to the butt joint wherein the laser cutting and welding heads ( 14   a ,  14   b ) are carried by the extension arms ( 16   a ,  16   b ) with displacement in the advance direction with respect to the arms ( 13   a ,  13   b ) in such way that they can assume a position directly side by side relative to the advance direction or can be readjusted to be in line in the advance direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the cutting and welding heads ( 14   a ,  14   b ) can be aligned individually by swiveling the arms ( 13   a ,  13   b ) and/or the extension arms ( 16   a ,  16   b ). 
 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the independent arms ( 13   a ,  13   b ) can be swiveled on their units ( 11   a ,  11   b ) with respect to the butt joint. 
 
     
     
       4. The device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein each combined laser cutting and welding head ( 14   a ,  14   b ) can be adjusted in the direction of its arm ( 13   a ,  13   b ). 
 
     
     
       5. The device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein on the side of the sheets ( 15   a ,  15   b ) to be joined facing away from the cutting and welding heads ( 14   a ,  14   b ), means ( 17 ) are provided for the removal of cutting and welding waste, said means being able to move simultaneously with the cutting and welding heads ( 4   a ,  4   b ). 
 
     
     
       6. The device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein on the side of the sheets ( 15   a ,  15   b ) to be joined facing away from the cutting and welding heads ( 14   a ,  14   b ), a protective gas supply ( 17   c ) is provided, which can be moved simultaneously with the cutting and welding heads ( 4   a ,  4   b ). 
 
     
     
       7. The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the independent arms ( 13   a ,  13   b ) can be swiveled on their units ( 11   a ,  11   b ) with respect to the butt joint. 
     
     
       8. The device according to  claim 2 , wherein each combined laser cutting and welding head ( 14   a ,  14   b ) can be adjusted in the direction of its arm ( 13   a ,  13   b ). 
     
     
       9. The device according to  claim 7 , wherein each combined laser cutting and welding head ( 14   a ,  14   b ) can be adjusted in the direction of its arm ( 13   a ,  13   b ). 
     
     
       10. The device according to  claim 2 , wherein on the side of the sheets ( 15   a ,  15   b ) to be joined facing away from the cutting and welding heads ( 14   a ,  14   b ), means ( 17 ) are provided for the removal of cutting and welding waste, said means being able to move simultaneously with the cutting and welding heads ( 4   a ,  4   b ). 
     
     
       11. The device according to  claim 7 , wherein on the side of the sheets ( 15   a ,  15   b ) to be joined facing away from the cutting and welding heads ( 14   a ,  14   b ), means ( 17 ) are provided for the removal of cutting and welding waste, said means being able to move simultaneously with the cutting and welding heads ( 4   a ,  4   b ). 
     
     
       12. The device according to  claim 8 , wherein on the side of the sheets ( 15   a ,  15   b ) to be joined facing away from the cutting and welding heads ( 14   a ,  14   b ), means ( 17 ) are provided for the removal of cutting and welding waste, said means being able to move simultaneously with the cutting and welding heads ( 4   a ,  4   b ). 
     
     
       13. The device according to  claim 9 , wherein on the side of the sheets ( 15   a ,  15   b ) to be joined facing away from the cutting and welding heads ( 14   a ,  14   b ), means ( 17 ) are provided for the removal of cutting and welding waste, said means being able to move simultaneously with the cutting and welding heads ( 4   a ,  4   b ). 
     
     
       14. The device according to  claim 2 , wherein on the side of the sheets ( 15   a ,  15   b ) to be joined facing away from the cutting and welding heads ( 14   a ,  14   b ), a protective gas supply ( 17   c ) is provided, which can be moved simultaneously with the cutting and welding heads ( 4   a ,  4   b ). 
     
     
       15. The device according to  claim 7 , wherein on the side of the sheets ( 15   a ,  15   b ) to be joined facing away from the cutting and welding heads ( 14   a ,  14   b ), a protective gas supply ( 17   c ) is provided, which can be moved simultaneously with the cutting and welding heads ( 4   a ,  4   b ). 
     
     
       16. The device according to  claim 8 , wherein on the side of the sheets ( 15   a ,  15   b ) to be joined facing away from the cutting and welding heads ( 14   a ,  14   b ), a protective gas supply ( 17   c ) is provided, which can be moved simultaneously with the cutting and welding heads ( 4   a ,  4   b ). 
     
     
       17. The device according to  claim 9 , wherein on the side of the sheets ( 15   a ,  15   b ) to be joined facing away from the cutting and welding heads ( 14   a ,  14   b ), a protective gas supply ( 17   c ) is provided, which can be moved simultaneously with the cutting and welding heads ( 4   a ,  4   b ). 
     
     
       18. The device according to  claim 10 , wherein on the side of the sheets ( 15   a ,  15   b ) to be joined facing away from the cutting and welding heads ( 14   a ,  14   b ), a protective gas supply ( 17   c ) is provided, which can be moved simultaneously with the cutting and welding heads ( 4   a ,  4   b ). 
     
     
       19. The device according to  claim 11 , wherein on the side of the sheets ( 15   a ,  15   b ) to be joined facing away from the cutting and welding heads ( 14   a ,  14   b ), a protective gas supply ( 17   c ) is provided, which can be moved simultaneously with the cutting and welding heads ( 4   a ,  4   b ). 
     
     
       20. The device according to  claim 12 , wherein on the side of the sheets ( 15   a ,  15   b ) to be joined facing away from the cutting and welding heads ( 14   a ,  14   b ), a protective gas supply ( 17   c ) is provided, which can be moved simultaneously with the cutting and welding heads ( 4   a ,  4   b ). 
     
     
       21. The device according to  claim 13 , wherein on the side of the sheets ( 15   a ,  15   b ) to be joined facing away from the cutting and welding heads ( 14   a ,  14   b ), a protective gas supply ( 17   c ) is provided, which can be moved simultaneously with the cutting and welding heads ( 4   a ,  4   b ). 
     
     
       22. A method for producing tailored blanks from sheets ( 15   a ,  15   b ) to be joined by welding in the butt joint, in particular using a device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein at least two combined laser cutting and welding heads ( 14   a ,  14   b ) are carried by extension arms ( 16   a ,  16   b ), which are carried by at least two independent arms ( 13   a ,  13   b ) associated with independent units ( 11   a ,  11   b ) of the advancing device, wherein the laser cutting and welding heads ( 14   a ,  14   b ) are carried by the extension arms ( 16   a ,  16   b ) with displacement in an advance direction with respect to the arms ( 13   a ,  13   b ) in such way that the at least two combined laser cutting and welding heads ( 14   a ,  14   b ) are moved simultaneously and directly side by side in the advance direction along the edges of the sheets held by a workpiece carrier, which edges are to be produced for the butt joint, and thereby cut the edges, and in that, after the bringing-together of the sheets ( 15   a ,  15   b ) for the butt joint and the holding of the sheets ( 15   a ,  15   b ) by the workpiece carrier, the two combined laser cutting and welding heads ( 14   a ,  14   b ) are then moved simultaneously along the produced edges of the sheets ( 15   a ,  15   b ) held by the workpiece carrier, which edges form the butt joint, and thereby produce the weld seam in different successive segments.